Illuminating clocks



(N0 Mode 1.)"

J. M. CRAWFORD.

ILLUMINATING CLOCKS. y No. 281.465. Patented-July 17, 1883..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. ORAl/VFORD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ILLUMINATI NG CLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,465, dated July 17, 1883.

Application filed May 8, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN M. CRAWFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminating Clocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in whieh- Figure 1 is a front elevation, showing clockdial and illuminating-burner. Fig. 2 is a rear view, showing mechanism for raising and lowering gas.

My invention has relation to clocks, and has for its object to provide means whereby the dials of the same may be illuminated, so as to enable time to be told at night, or during periods when, or in places where, darkness prevails, such illumination being effected either for a continuous period of timeas, for ex ample, the whole night through-or at intermittent periodssay every hour, half, or quarter.

My invention has for its further object to provide portable clocks (including thereby all .house or apartment clocks or clocks of every kind except town or steeple clocks) with means whereby the same may be readily illuminated, such means consisting of a gas-bracket affixed to the case of the clock and adapted to be connected with a gas-pipe by a flexible tube or equivalent appliance.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby a clock is provided with a gas-burner which is adapted to be brought in front of the face of the clock, and which may be moved away from the front of such face, so as to leave the same completely eX- posed and the view thereof unobstructed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means whereby a gas-bracket, used in connection with a clock as a means of illuminating the same, may be moved into different positions, so as to permit free and unobstructed vision of the dial from different points of view.

My improvements consist in the peculiar construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth, having reference, principally, to the following points: first, to the combination, with a clock, of a gas burner or bracket attached thereto, and adapted to illuminate the same from the outside or externally second, to the combination, with a clock or clock-case, of a gas burner or bracket adapted to be moved into position in front of the dial at night, or at times when illumination is required, and to be moved out of such position at other times; third, to the combination, with a clock or clock-case, of a gas bracket or burner adapted to be swung or adjusted into different positions, so as to throwethe same out of line of View of a person looking at the dial from an oblique or angling point of view; fourth, to certain details of construction hereinafter fully set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates the case of a clock of ordinary con struction, and B the dial thereof.

0. is a gas-bracket attached to the case A, so as to be transported with said case when the latter is moved. Said bracket is preferably formed with a swivel-j oint, so that its arm 0, to which the burner c is attached, may be swung into position in front of the dial, as shown in dotted lines, or to one side of the case, as shown in full lines. When in front, said burner may be adjusted either directly in front of the diali. a, in the middle-or to any point to either side'of the middle, to permit an unobstructed View of the dial by a per son occupying an oblique position with reference to said dial. llhe bracket 0 is connected with or has attached to it a valve, D, which is opened by the upward and closed by the downward movement of a lever, E, pivoted at e on .the back of the clock-case, said lever having a clutch or fork, 0, whose arms encircle said valve and fit in an annular groove, d therein. F is another lever, fulcrumed at f on the clockoase, and pivotally connected at f with the lever E. The other end, f", of said lever extends inwardly, so as to be in line of contact with radial arms 9 g on a shaft, G, which is an extension of the arbor of the minute-hand of the clock. As said shaft revolves the le vers E and F are moved, operating to open the valve D and let on the gas fully for a short period, and then partly close said valve, allowing only sufficient gas to pass through the latter to support a very low light, spark, or glimmer.

H represents a flexible tube of india-rubber, which is attached to the valve D at h, its other end being connected in suitable manner with a gas-pipe, so as to obtain gas for and carry it to the valve I). Said tube passes between and is held by the arms a i of a fork or clamp, I, secured to the case A, and provided with pins or studs which engage with said tube, so as to firmly grasp the same. When the tube is at tached to the valve, and before passing it in between the spring-arms I, the valve is depressed, and is held in that position by the elasticity of the tube until raised up by the levers E and F. Said tube thus serves not only to convey gas to the valve, but also acts as a spring to keep said valve normally nearly closed, yet permit its opening to its full extent at predetermined intervals. The arms of the shaft G are hinged, so that they can be folded or doubled up out of reach of contact with the end of lever F to regulate the intervals for illumination. There may be more or less than four of these arms, if desired.

The operation is as follows: During the daytime, or when the clock does not require to be illuminated by gas, the bracket D is swung around to one side and the arms g folded, so as not to come in contact with the end of lever F. The clock now is used as an ordinary timepiece, the illuminating appendage being inactive. \Vhen the dial requires to be illuminated, the gas-bracket is brought into position, either directly in front of the middle of the dial or to either side thereof, so as to leave the view of the dial unobstructed from any particular point. If a continuous illumination be desired, the valve D may be left permanently open by depressing the cam-lever K, throwing up said valve. If a periodical illumination be desired, the arms 9 y will be extended accordingly, one or more, so that in their rotation they will come in contact with the lever F. At the time of such contact the levers F and E are depressed, thus opening the valve to its full extent and allowing sufficient gas to the burner to supply a flame of ordinary or any desired size. After contact is over, the tube, acting as a spring, closes the valve to such an extent that only sufficient gas is fed to the burner to support a faint spark or glimmer.

By means of the foregoing arrangement a clock in a sleeping-room, for example, may be illuminated so as to permit'time to be read or noted at every hour or half or quarter hour, or oftener, comparative darkness prevailing during the intervals. If desiredand it is so designed by me-an alarm, K, may be combined with the clock, and by setting this to chime its announcement simultaneously with a period of illumination an awakened sleeper aroused by the noise can satisfy himself by inspection of the illuminated dial that the period for which the alarm was set has actually arrived.

I have not herein claimed, broadly, the combination of clock-work mechanism with a burner, as the sameis shown in Letters Patent of the United States heretofore granted to me, dated May 2, 187 9, the purpose of the said patented invention being, however, different from that contemplated by this application.

WVhat I claim as my invention is as follows:

1. The combination and arrangement,with a time-clock, of the gas-bracket attached thereto, and intermediate mechanism operated by the works of the clock to turn on and shut off the valve which controls the flow of gas through said bracket at predetermined times to enable the dial of said clock to be illuminated, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of a time-clock and the gas-bracket attached thereto, and intermediate mechanism between the gas-valve and the works of the clock, and operated by the latter to vary the gas-flame for; the illumination of the clock-face intermittently or at defined periods, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with a time-clock, of an adjustable bracket having a gas burner and valve, with intermediate mechanism, substan tially as described, whereby the flow of gas through'said burner is regulated to illuminate the dial of said clock in a predetermined man ner, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the valve I) and clock-shaft G and arms 9 g, the levers E and F, connected to each other and secured to the case A of the clock, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the valve D, the tube H, and clamp I, said tube serving as a conveyer of gas, and also as a spring to keep said valve normally closed, or nearly so, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a clock, of an adjustable gas-burner on the front thereof, and with mechanism on the back of the clock for moving the cock or valve of said burner, so as to raise and lower the flame and illuminate the face of said clock intermittently, subslantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing l' have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of May, 1882.

JOHN M. CRAIVFORD.

\Vitnesses M. D. CoNNoLLY, VILL H. POWELL. 

